Mrs. Esther Joyce Bevil Stein

Esther Joyce Bevil Stein, 78, of Anderson, SC and formerly of Griffin, GA, died November 25 in Anderson. She was born August 4, 1936 in Milner, GA to J.W. Bevil, Sr. and Beatrice Smith Bevil. She was a 1954 graduate of Griffin High School, a 1956 graduate of Middle Georgia College, and continued her lifelong love of learning at Austin Peay State University and Clemson University. One of the first female air traffic controllers hired by the FAA in 1970, she retired from flight service at Anderson Regional Airport.

Joyce’s life was defined by her energy, intellectual curiosity, and spirit of adventure. Often a non-traditionalist, she started her career in Atlanta with Western Electric and Paradies. She worked in Georgia Tech’s mainframe computer lab in the 60’s, began a career with the FAA in the 70’s, learned to fly and sail, held NASA certification to handle lunar samples, attended the launch of the first Space Shuttle flight, flew in a T-38 fighter, travelled extensively, and rarely missed an adventure.

She was a committed volunteer, serving as president of Anderson County Head Start and twice as president of the Anderson County Woman’s Club, and as a member of the League of Women Voters, the Greater Anderson Rotary Club, the Cateechee chapter of the D.A. R, and Anderson Literacy. She enjoyed her garden club and her Greenville book club.

She is survived by her husband, William L. Stein, Jr. of Anderson whom she married in 1989 and was predeceased by former spouses W.L. Smith and Thomas McCarthney. She is also survived by her children, Lou Ella Hobgood (Jim) and Brian Smith, both of Rome; granddaughters Mary Nevin Hobgood Gauthier (Thomas) of Norwalk, CT and Hollis Rose Hobgood Barton (Dustin) of Rome; a brother, James Wills Bevil, Jr. (Linda) of Milner, GA, and sister, Frances Bevil McCarthney (Herbert) of Griffin, GA; and by her nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.

The family will receive visitors at Haisten-McCullough Funeral Home, Griffin, from noon to 2:00 Saturday, November 29 with funeral services immediately following. Interment will take place at Milner Baptist Church, Milner, GA. Pallbearers will be Milton McCarthney, Trevor McCarthney, Tyler Rawlings, William Butler, Thomas Gauthier, and Dustin Barton.

Memorials may be sent to the Anderson Woman’s Club, 809 West Market St, Anderson, SC 29624.